12. Unpleasantville

Stefan entered the living room of the boarding house, to see books scattered all across the room and his two older brothers rummaging through the bookshelves to find something.

"What are you two looking for?" Stefan asked curiously.

"Not your concern" Damon replied.

"No, but putting Caroline in harm's way, that is my concern" Stefan said.

"Don't pretend like you care about Caroline" Brayden snapped.

"She's Elena's friend" Stefan defended.

"And my girlfriend" Brayden retorted, "I would never put her in danger, but if you are so curious, then let me tell you, me and Caroline went to Atlanta, we had a blast together, we even met up with some old friends of mine, overall it was great day".

"Friends?" Stefan asked confused.

"Yes Stefan, friends" Brayden replied, "Believe it or not, I actually have friends, I'm not Damon".

"Rude" Damon said.

"I get it, you both are just bitter because one of us gets to be with the person that we love and poor Katherine and Kaitlynn are just out of reach, I mean that's what you're using Caroline for, right Brayden, to forget about Kaitlynn?" Stefan asked, making Brayden glare at him, "Unless there's another way for you two to get into that tomb, that what your friends say?".

"You're pathetic when you're fishing" Damon replied.

"You're transparent when deflecting" Stefan retorted.

"First of all, we don't trust you little brother, so even if we did know something, we will never tell you, because you lost our trust a hundred and forty five years ago" Brayden said, he walked over to Stefan and stood infront of him, "Second of all, don't ever say that I'm using Caroline, I'm not you Stefan, you're the one whose using Elena to fill in the gap Fae left behind, Caroline has her own place in my heart, she's not replacing anyone, not like Elena is".

Before Stefan could say anything, Brayden walked past him, not wanting to deal with his brother's judgement any longer.

"That's what you get for angering him" Damon commented, continuing his search and ignoring his brother's presence.

***

"Necklace?" Caroline asked confused, "Why are you giving me a necklace Elena?".

"It has vervain in it" Elena informed, "It will keep you safe from all the vampires".

"You mean Brayden and Damon" Caroline realised, "It will keep me safe from Brayden and Damon".

Elena sighed, "I'm just trying to look out for you Caroline, I don't want Brayden or Damon to compel you".

"They wouldn't do that, so you can keep this necklace, I don't need it" Caroline said, handing Elena the necklace back.

"Caroline, you need this, please keep it" Elena pleaded.

"Elena, Brayden already gave me a necklace that keeps me safe" Caroline snapped, showing Elena her crystal necklace, "This necklace is spelled by a witch, it stops vampires from compelling me, it even tells Brayden when I'm in danger, so your necklace is useless to me, I already have a better one".

"When did Brayden give that to you?" Elena asked confused.

"The day after the dinner at your house" Caroline replied, "Now excuse me, I have class".

Before Elena could ask any more questions, Caroline walked away, not wanting to answer any of Elena's constant questions.

***

"You know when you called me to meet you in your lunch break, I thought you wanted to spend time with me Caroline, not make me paint some stupid high school sign" Brayden complained.

"Well I need to finish this sign before the decade dance tonight, which by the way you're coming to" Caroline said.

"Great, another event" Brayden mumbled.

Caroline shook her head at her boyfriend, "Come on Brayden, help me finish the sign, then we will do anything you want".

Brayden smirked, "Anything?".

Caroline smiled, she placed a paint brush in Brayden's hand, "Anything" she replied.

"You look like a mess princess" Brayden commented, helping Caroline paint the sign, "A hot mess".

Caroline playfully glared at Brayden, she then took her paint brush and put paint on Brayden's arm, "You were saying?" she asked.

Brayden chuckled at Caroline's actions, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer to him, then using his paint brush, he put paint on Caroline's cheek, making Caroline laugh.

"I was saying, that you are a mess princess" Brayden teased, letting go of Caroline, "Who thought, Caroline Forbes, the girl who tells everyone what to do, can actually get her hands dirty".

"Well if you want something done right, you gotta do it yourself" Caroline said.

Brayden nodded in agreement, "Oh and just so you know, I'm not dressing up for this dance".

Caroline sighed, "It's a miracle that you agreed to come, so I guess you coming in your stupid leather jacket will do, but you are showing me some cool dance moves, you know since you actually lived in the decade".

"Not happening" Brayden said.

"It so is happening" Caroline said.

"We will see" Brayden said.

"Oh we will" Caroline said, making Brayden shake his head at her.

***

After spending some time with Caroline, Brayden came back home, and once again joined Damon in looking for their father's journal, before he had to leave for the dance.

"You got the hair right" Damon commented, when Stefan entered the room.

Stefan didn't say anything just threw a journal towards Brayden, which he easily caught.

"Dad's journal" Brayden realised, "Why are you giving me Dad's journal?".

"Because you both were looking for it" Stefan replied.

"And why would we want it?" Damon asked.

"Gee, I don't know" Stefan replied, "Maybe you both wanna do a little bit of posthumous bonding, go ahead, enjoy it, read it, I have, nowhere in it does it say anything about Katherine and Kaitlynn or the tomb or how to open it".

"I'm not surprised, the man could barely spell his own name" Damon said, as Brayden opened the journal and started reading.

"I'm really sorry that it won't be of any help with your guy's diabolical plan, the sequel" Stefan said.

"Don't you have somewhere to be?" Brayden asked.

"You know, I could help you both" Stefan said, ignoring Brayden's words.

"You help us?" Damon asked, not believing his brother's words, "I don't know, it seems a little unnatural".

"I'll do anything to get you two out of this town" Stefan said.

"Except here's the catch, brother" Brayden said, "We're not leaving town, I'm not leaving Caroline, and Damon is not leaving without me, so whether you like it or not Stefan, you're stuck with us, unless of course you decide to leave town, which if you do, we won't stop you, now excuse me, I have to get ready for a date", Brayden handed their dad's journal to Damon and left the room, leaving Stefan and Damon by themselves.

***

"Well, how'd he get in?" Damon asked Elena.

While Brayden was getting ready for the decade dance, he received a call from Stefan, saying that a mystery vampire had entered Elena's house and tried to attack her, which is how Brayden and Damon ended up at the Gilbert's house, both the twins wanting to know who the mystery vampire was.

"He was invited in" Elena replied.

"He posed as a pizza delivery guy last night" Stefan informed.

"Well, he gets points for that" Damon said.

"If you know there are bloody vampires in this town, why will you invite a random person into your house?" Brayden asked.

"Jeremy invited him, not me" Elena defended.

"That's why you need to tell your brother about the supernatural" Brayden said, "His life is in more danger when his kept in the dark, not when he knows the truth".

"I am not involving Jeremy in this" Elena snapped.

"Fine" Brayden said, "But when he becomes vampire bait, because you decided to keep him in the dark, then don't say I didn't warn you".

"Did the vampire say what he wanted?" Damon asked, interrupting Elena and Brayden's argument.

"No, he was too busy trying to kill me" Elena snapped.

"Watch the tone" Brayden warned.

"And you both have no idea who this is?" Stefan asked his brothers.

"No" Damon replied, making Stefan give him a I don't believe you look, "Don't look at me like that, I told you we had company".

"You think there's more than one?" Elena asked, scared.

"We don't know" Damon replied.

Before anyone could say anything, Brayden's phone started ringing, "Hello" he answered.

"Brayden Salvatore".

"Whose this?" Brayden asked, confused hearing a stranger call him.

"You know, after losing Kaitlynn, I'd think you'd keep your new girlfriend closer to you, but no, instead you're at the doppelganger's house, leaving your little human unprotected".

Brayden, Damon and Stefan exchanged alarmed looks hearing the stranger's words.

"Did you know if you dress as a plumber and pretend you're here to check the leaking pipe, you actually get invited into someone's house".

"If you touch even a hair on her head, then I will rip you limb from limb" Brayden threatened.

"By the time you get here, I would have ripped her limb to limb".

The vampire hanged up on Brayden, and without wasting even a second Brayden ran out the door, wanting to get to Caroline before something bad happened to her.

"What's going on?" Elena asked, seeing Damon follow Brayden out, "Why did they leave like this?".

"I have to go as well" Stefan replied, standing up from the couch.

"Stefan, what's going on?" Elena asked confused.

"The mystery vampire is going after Caroline" Stefan replied, running after his brothers.

***

Caroline was in her bathroom, doing her hair for the decade dance, when her phone started ringing in her bedroom, Caroline picked her phone up and realised Brayden was calling her.

"I'm not hearing any excuses Brayden" Caroline said, answering her phone, "You're coming to this dance".

"Caroline, lock all your doors and windows" Brayden said, the urgency in his voice, confusing Caroline.

"Brayden, is everything okay?" Caroline asked.

"A vampire attacked Elena and now his coming after you" Brayden replied, shocking Caroline, "Caroline, open the first drawer on your side table, I've left a stake there, grab it and stay in your bedroom, lock all the doors and windows, and stay on the phone, I'm on my way".

Caroline ran to her side table and opening it, she saw the stake Brayden left behind, she grabbed it just as she heard glass breaking in her living room.

"Brayden" Caroline whispered, terrified, "I think his here".

"Close your door Caroline, I'm almost there" Brayden ordered.

Caroline ran to her bedroom door, she quickly shut it and locked it, she took a few steps back and stared at the door, she let out a yell, when someone started banging on the door, before Caroline could react, the door bursted open and the mystery vampire came in Caroline's room.

Caroline tried to run, but the mystery vampire blocked her way and pushed Caroline to the floor, he started walking towards her, and just as he was about to attack her, Caroline staked the vampire in his stomach, pushing him to the ground, Caroline ran towards the front door, just as Brayden, Damon and Stefan entered the house.

"Brayden!" Caroline yelled, running into Brayden's arms.

"Where is he?" Brayden asked, hugging Caroline.

"Bedroom" Caroline cried, holding on Brayden for dear life.

While Brayden tried to calm Caroline down, Damon and Stefan ran into Caroline's bedroom to find the mystery vampire, but when they got there, the vampire was gone, the only sign of him being there, was the bloody stake on the floor.

***

"Let's assume this vampire attacked Elena because she looks like Katherine, but then why would he go after Caroline?" Damon asked.

Currently, Brayden, Caroline, Stefan, Damon and Elena, who had also made her way over to the Forbes house, sat in the living room, Caroline still refusing to let go of Brayden, she was still very terrified.

"He knew about me and Kaitlynn" Brayden said, rubbing Caroline's back, "He has to be someone from our past".

"But the question is who?" Stefan asked.

"Well it's clear he has something against us" Damon replied, "That's why he went after Caroline and Elena, the girls that you two are in love with".

"Brayden, Damon, his invited in both the houses" Stefan said.

"Which means we need to find him, and stake him, tonight" Brayden said.

"Caroline, you up for it?" Damon asked.

"I'm scared" Caroline admitted.

"Nothing's going to happen to you" Brayden said, "I won't let anything happen to you".

"Either Brayden or me, one of us will always be there by your side" Damon assured, "We won't let him get to you".

Caroline thought about it for a moment, then nodded, "What do I do?".

"Nothing" Brayden replied, "Just be your beautiful self at the decade dance".

"Brayden takes you, Stefan takes Elena, and we'll see who shows up" Damon said.

"That's a bad idea" Stefan said.

"Till we get him, this house and Elena's house aren't safe, for anyone who lives in them" Damon said, "It's worth a shot".

"It's fine if you don't want to do this" Brayden told Caroline, "We can just use Elena as bait".

"No, I'll do it" Caroline said, "Just don't leave my side, okay?".

"I won't leave your side" Brayden promised.

"I guess we'll be with the three of you, we'll be safe" Elena said.

***

The group of five entered the decade dance together, with Elena's arm looped around Stefan's, while Caroline's arm was looped around both Damon and Brayden's.

"Go, mingle" Brayden told Caroline, "We will keep an eye out".

Caroline nodded, and with Elena, walked over to Bonnie, while the three brothers kept an eye out for the mystery vampire.

"Having fun?" Elena asked Bonnie.

"What's Damon and Brayden doing here?" Bonnie asked, ignoring Elena's question.

"Brayden's my boyfriend, his here as my date" Caroline said, "And Damon isn't here to cause any trouble, his just looking out for me".

"And if I'm gonna be with Stefan then I have to learn to tolerate Damon and Brayden" Elena said, "It's not like I can kill them".

"There's a thought" Bonnie said, causing Caroline to frown.

"Okay, you know I get you're upset with Damon, because of what he did to you, but Brayden saved your life, you should be thankful to him, not thinking about killing him" Caroline snapped.

"Caroline--".

"Save it Bonnie" Caroline said, "I'm going to get a drink".

Caroline walked over to the punch bowl, leaving shocked Elena and Bonnie behind.

***

Damon walked over to the punch bowl where Caroline was, "Hey Blondie".

"Hey Damon" Caroline said.

"Wanna dance?" Damon asked.

"You dance?" Caroline asked, "Cause if I remember last time I had to force you".

"Of course I do" Damon replied, grabbing Caroline's hand and dragging her to the dance floor, making her laugh.

"Do you see the vampire anywhere?" Damon asked.

"Nope" Caroline replied, "It would have been cool if you guys could sense each other".

"Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way" Damon said.

"Sucks really" Caroline said.

Damon and Caroline danced for a little bit longer, Damon then saw someone behind Caroline, and without warning the Forbes girl, he quickly span the girl around, right into his brother's arms.

"Woah" Caroline said, not excepting that.

"My turn" Brayden said.

Caroline smiled, "Hey".

"Hey" Brayden greeted.

"So, Brayden Salvatore, tell me what you were like in the 50s" Caroline said.

"Mostly drunk" Brayden said, making Caroline chuckle.

"So no milkshakes?" Caroline asked.

"No milkshakes" Brayden replied.

"I could just imagine you looking like Danny from Greese" Caroline teased.

"Okay, eww" Brayden said, "I'm my own person, thank you very much".

Brayden span Caroline around, then pulled her back towards him.

Caroline smiled, she wrapped her arms around Brayden's neck, and both the vampire and human slowly swayed to the music, enjoying each other's presences to the fullest.

***

After dancing for a while, Caroline decided to use the restroom, while Brayden and Damon stood on the sidelines, looking for any sign of the vampire who attacked Elena and Caroline.

"Hey, I don't recognise you two" Alaric said, walking over to the twins, "How'd you get two get roped into chaperoning?", both Damon and Brayden looked at Alaric in confusion, having no idea who he was and why he was talking to them, "Alaric Saltzman, I'm the new history teacher" he introduced.

"Oh, the cursed faculty position" Damon said, shaking Alaric's hand.

"So I've been told" Alaric said.

"Damon Salvatore" Damon introduced, "And this is my brother Brayden", Brayden gave Alaric a nod.

"Salvatore?" Alaric asked, "As in, uh, Stefan?".

"He's our little brother" Brayden replied.

"I'm his legal guardian, hence, the chaperoning" Damon informed, "Brayden's here to keep his girlfriend company".

"Girlfriend?" Alaric asked curiously.

"Caroline Forbes" Damon replied, smirking at Brayden, making him shake his head at him.

"Right" Alaric whispered, "And I've heard that your brother is very bright, not that I've had a chance to see for myself".

"Well, his attendance record's a little spotty, family drama" Damon said.

"No parents?" Alaric asked.

"Just us three" Brayden replied, not liking the amount of questions Alaric was asking.

"You both live here your whole life?" Alaric asked, continuing his questions.

"On and off, travel a bit" Damon replied, equally as suspicious as his twin.

"Really, where?" Alaric asked, "Around the States?".

"You ask a lot of questions" Brayden said.

Alaric chuckled, "I'm sorry, I'm nosy, I don't mean to pry, look, it was nice meeting you two".

"You too" Damon said.

"Enjoy the rest of the dance" Alaric told the brothers, walking away from them.

"There's something wrong about him" Brayden said.

"I agree" Damon said.

***

Caroline came out of the restroom and immediately started looking for either Brayden and Damon, her eyes finally landed on the twins, standing near the punch, she went to walk towards them, when suddenly a hand was wrapped around her mouth and she was dragged away.

"Dammit!" Brayden yelled, looking down at his necklace that just burned him, and was glowing.

Both Damon and Brayden exchanged an alarmed look, both the brothers started looking around for the blonde girl, but found no sign of her.

"I'll go find Stefan, you go look for Caroline" Damon said.

Brayden nodded and quickly started looking around for the blonde.

***

Noah, the mystery vampire who attacked Elena and Caroline, threw Caroline on to the cafeteria floor, Caroline quickly stood up and tried running away, when Noah grabbed her hair and threw her on to one of the tables.

Caroline quickly grabbed a wooden pencil that had fallen on the floor, and just as Noah tried to grab her, Caroline used the pencil to stab Noah with the pencil, right in his stomach, using another pencil, Caroline stabbed Noah's hand, and after pushing him away from her, Caroline stood up and ran over to the wooden mop, grabbing it, she broke it in half, she tried to stake Noah again, but he held her hand, he took the stake from Caroline's hand and threw it on the floor, and just as he was about to bite Caroline, Brayden speeded over to him, grabbing him by his collars, Brayden threw Noah away from Caroline.

Noah quickly stood up, "Hey, dickhead" Damon called out, standing behind Noah with Stefan and Elena, "Nobody wants to kill you, we just wanna talk".

Noah smirked, he turned back to Caroline and tried to rush towards her, but Damon quickly threw the wooden stake towards Brayden, catching it, Brayden stabbed Noah, right below his heart.

"Now you feel like talking?" Stefan asked.

"Screw you" Noah snapped.

Brayden glared at the vampire, he then pushed the stake further into Noah, causing him to yell in pain.

"Don't give us attitude" Brayden warned.

"Why are you doing this?" Stefan asked.

"Because it's fun" Noah replied.

"Not good enough" Brayden said, pushing the stake towards Noah's heart.

"What do you want with Elena and Caroline?" Stefan asked.

"Elena looks like Katherine" Noah replied, he then turned to Brayden, "And Caroline is the girl you let in after Kaitlynn".

"You knew Katherine and Kaitlynn" Brayden realised.

"Aw, you thought you were the only ones" Noah said, "You don't even remember me".

"Are we supposed to?" Brayden asked.

"You stole Kaitlynn from me!" Noah yelled, "That's why I was going to steal Caroline from you".

"You were in love with Kaitlynn?" Brayden asked shocked.

"One of many" Noah said, glancing at Damon, something gone unnoticed by everyone but Damon.

"Tell us how to get in the tomb" Damon demanded, quickly changing the topic.

"No" Noah snapped, causing Brayden to push the stake further in, "The grimoire" he breathed out.

"Well, where is it?" Damon asked.

Noah stayed silent, causing Brayden to stick the stake deeper, "Check the journal, the journal" he cried, "Use Johnathan's journal, Jonathan Gilbert's".

"Who else is working with you?" Stefan asked.

"Who else is there?" Damon snapped, when Noah stayed silent.

"No" Noah said, "You're gonna have to kill me".

Damon nodded at Brayden, who took the stake out of Noah's stomach, then plunged it into his heart, killing him.

"What--? What do--? How are you gonna find the others now?" Elena asked, shocked as to what she just witnessed.

"He had to die" Damon replied, as Brayden hugged Caroline.

"Are you okay?" Brayden asked.

"Ask me that once my heart stops beating so fast" Caroline replied, hugging Brayden tightly.

"But--".

"Elena" Stefan interrupted, "He's been invited into both yours and Caroline's house".

The brothers attention went towards the door when they heard a noise.

"Stay with Caroline" Damon told Brayden, "I'll go check who it is".

Brayden nodded, and Damon left to see who made the noise.

***

After Damon dealt with Alaric, him and his brothers stood in the empty school corridor, talking about the vampire and Emily's grimoire.

"No way that idiot was working alone" Damon said.

"You and Brayden are" Stefan said.

"We're not working alone, we have each other, there's a difference" Brayden snapped.

"So the grimoire, it was Emily's, right?" Stefan asked his brothers, "That's what you two need to reverse the spell? When the founding families burned her, they took her things and you both were hoping that Dad's journal would tell you where it is".

"Look at you putting the pieces together" Damon said, "Good for you, we were half right, well, it's out there now, let the games begin".

"My offer still stands" Stefan said.

"There's no way you will help me and Damon" Brayden snapped, "I don't buy it".

"Nothing hidden about it, no lies, no deception" Stefan assured, "I'm there when that tomb opens up, you both take Katherine and Kaitlynn out and the other twenty six vampires die".

"If we agree?" Damon asked.

"I'll help you guys" Stefan replied.

"I don't trust you" Brayden said.

"You should trust me Brayden, I'm your brother" Stefan said.

"No, that's not gonna cut it" Damon said.

"Because I want you both gone" Stefan said.

"It's like I talk to a brick wall" Brayden mumbled.

"Okay" Damon told Stefan.

Stefan nodded and walked away from his brothers.

"We aren't leaving town" Brayden said.

"I know, but Stefan doesn't know that" Damon said, "You trust him?".

"Absolutely not" Brayden replied, "Do you?".

"Nope" Damon replied, "We have to be careful when it comes to our little brother".

Brayden nodded in understanding.

***

"I bought you curly fries" Brayden said, entering Caroline's room through the window.

Caroline gave Brayden a small smile, "Thanks".

"You okay?" Brayden asked, sitting next to Caroline.

"Kind of" Caroline replied, "I mean, getting attacked by the vampire frightened me, but I also fought back, so I'm feeling scared and empowered all at the same time".

"I'm sorry" Brayden said, "The only reason that vampire came after you was to get back at me".

"Brayden, the day I told you my feelings, I knew what I was getting myself into" Caroline said, "I knew this wasn't going to be easy, and I'm okay with that, normal is overrated anyways".

"Amen to that" Brayden said, laying back on Caroline's bed, and pulling Caroline down with him.

Caroline chuckled at Brayden's actions, she put her head on Brayden's chest and listened to his heartbeat.

"You have a heartbeat" Caroline whispered.

"My heart only beats when it's with you" Brayden said, kissing Caroline's head.

"God, you are so cheesy" Caroline said.

Brayden chuckled, "I know".

Caroline sighed, "I'm tired".

"Sleep then" Brayden said.

"Don't go" Caroline said.

"Wouldn't dream of it" Brayden whispered, as Caroline closed her eyes and let sleep take over.

***

Presenting 1x12 of The Vampire Diaries . . .

How was the chapter?

Thoughts on Stefan thinking Brayden is using Caroline to forget about Kaitlynn?

Thoughts on Noah, the mystery vampire, going after Elena and Caroline?

Thoughts on Noah glancing at Damon when mentioning that Brayden wasn't the only one in love with Kaitlynn?

Thoughts on Stefan wanting to help Damon and Stefan in opening the tomb and freeing Katherine and Kaitlynn?